Lasting machine



Dec. 28, 1954 l. AUMAN 9 3 LASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 28, 1954 AUMAN LASTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 8, 1948 Dec. 28, 1954 AUMAN 2,697,844

LASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 9 2,697,844 LASTING MACHINE Irwin Airman, Lebanon, Pa.

Application November 8, 1948,- Serial No. 58,959-

Claims. (Cl. '1212) This invention relates to lasting machines having a.

plurality. of movable shoe-forming elements and aims. generally. to improve lastingzmachines of this type having fluid operating means for actuating: the shoe-forming. elements.

It is an object of this invention to provide a'lasting machine which may be actuated to form a'shoe bylsimple manipulation of a lever mechanism.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lasting machine in which the'shoe-forming elements-and last jack are adapted to be moved to shoe-forming position by. a single actuation of a lever mechanism.

It is a still further object of the invention-to provide a lasting machine having a plurality.v of interchangeable shoe-forming elements whereby shoes of different sizes and either right or left shoes maybe formed-on the same machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a lasting machine having a plurality of shoe-forming elements movable between opened and closed position to forma shoe, fluid operated means adapted to simultaneously move the shoe-forming elements from opened to closed position on each actuation thereof; andspring means adapted to return the shoe-forming elements to open position when the fluid operated means is released.

It is still another object of theinvention to provide a lasting machine having a plurality of shoe-forming elements movable between opened and closed position to form a shoe, fluid operated means for actuating said shoeforming elements and. a pump for supplying :fluid to said fluid operated means, said pump having amanually operable plunger adapted on each operating strokethereof to supply suflicient fluid to actuate the fluid operated means to thereby-move the shoe-forming elements from opened to closed position.

It is a further object of, theinvention to provide a hydraulic system for operating a .lastingmachin'e, said" hydraulic system including a fluid distribution header from which fluid under pressure is distributed to the component parts of the'system to effect'simultaneousactua tion thereof and a reciprocating-pump for supplying fluid under pressure tosaid header; said pump being designed to supply a quantity of fluid on each-"operative strokethereof suflicient to effect the requiredactuation'of the.

Fig.2 is a front elevational view of the device looking from the left in Fig. lwith poi'tio'ns broken away to show' the last jack construction;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the devicelooking from theleft in Fig. 2 with a portion of one of the hydraulic cylinders broken away;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of oneof the fluid operated. shoe-forming mechanisms showing the parts opened or retracted position;

Fig. 5 is a side view partly in'section of the' mechanism". of Fig. 4'with the fluid ,operatedmeans andtheformingblade omitted} Fig.6 is anend view of the xmechanism shown in Fig.;-.

4'looking from the right in Fig. 4; and,

Fig. 7 is-a vertical sectional view of the fluid operatedmeans taken longitudinally thereof.

The improved lasting machine according to the present= inve'ntion-comprisesa base portion l, having frame members-Z extending upwardlytherefrom, and a table portion 3 mounted on the frame members 12 and adapted to sup-- port the shoe-forming mechanisms hereinafter described.- The base portion 1 -is desirablyformed ofa pluralityof flat metal pieces 4 welded or-otherwise secured :together and provided with openings 5 for attachingthe device to a-suita'ble support by'means of bolts and nuts, lugs or Theframe members2 are desirablyformed of angle iron or steel and may be suitably braced with crosspieces or the like to provide the necessary. strength the like.

and rigidity. The-table 3 is secured tothe tops of the frame members '2 by any-suitable means such as welding.v

The shoe-forming.mechanisms referred to above comrisedaplurality of shoe-forming blades or wipers 6, 7,

an blades 7, 8 and 9 are similarly mounted on slides adapted to reciprocate in stationary slide blocks mounted on the table 3 and are moved between an opened andclosed position .to form the sides and toe of a shoe as will be more apparent? hereinafter. The fourth shoe-forming blade,

i. e., blade 6, is mounted on-a stationary support and cooperates with the movable blades 7, 8 and 9 when theyare in closed position to form the heel of a shoe.

The blade 9,- which is shaped to form one of .the side portions of'a shoe, is mounted'in a recessed. portion .10 of a slide 11 and iszfirmly clamped thereon by'a clamping,

flange 12 and stud bolt 13. Dowel pins 14 project upwardly in the recessed portion of the slide 11 and serve" to position the blade on the slide so that it will .always occupy the same position when dismantled'and reassem-.-

The.

bled or when interchanged with another blade. shoulder-15 of the recessed portion 10 contacts the rear of the blade 9 when it is mounted on the slide and assists in-holding it firmly in position thereon.

The slide 11 has sliding engagement with .a stationary slide block 16 which is securedto the table'3 by bolts 17 and nuts 18. The slide 11 is held in position on the slide block 16 by adove-tailed construction comprisingad'ove-tail part 19 extending downwardly from the slide and received in a similarly shaped groove 20 in the top of the slide blocks. between the sloping sides of the dove-tail part 19and the groove 20 and is adjustable longitudinally by means of screws 22-positionedateach end of the strip to keep the slide from getting loose.

The slide 11 is moved from its outwardlyopened position to its inwardly closed position by fluid operatedmeans comprising a hydraulic cylinder 23, piston 24 and supply means hereinafter described and introduce it into the cylinder 23 to actuate the piston 24 and piston rod 2 5 The piston 24 desirably comprises a cup-shaped'washer 35 and a space washer 36 secured on a reduced end portionof the p'istonrod 25 by anut' 37; The piston. rod 25 extends throughv the sealed opening 30 in the end plate 26 andhasa' portion 38 thereon adapted to be snugly received in an opening 39 in the slide. As fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylinder 23 through the inlet passage 34 the piston 24 moves inwardly until it contacts the inner wall of the end plate 26. This acts as a stop" to limit further inward movement of the piston and piston rodand of the slide 11 and blade 9 which are actuated" thereby.

When the fluid pressure on. the piston 24 is' releaseda" springAt) moves the slide. v11 back to its outward position thereby. forcing the piston rod 25' andpiston 24 outwardly Patented Dec. 28, .1954

9. Three of the shoe-forming blades, i. .e., .the

A tapered gib strip 21 is positioned.

to irpel the fluid from the cylinder 23 and return it to the source of supply. Spring 40 is positioned in a groove 41 of the stationary slide block 16 and has one end thereof in .contact with the closed end of the groove and the other end in contact with a projecting portion 42 of a pin 43, the latter being mounted in the slide 11 in any suitable manner. The spring 40 is normally under compression at all times and is further compressed when the slide 11 moves inwardly. The energy thus stored up in the spring 40 is sufficient to actuate the slide 11 and piston 24 for return movement to their outward positions when the fluid pressure on the piston 24 is released.

The blades 7 and 8 are shaped to form a side and toe of a shoe and are mounted similarly to the blade 9 on slides 44 and 45 having dove-tail connections with the slide blocks 46 and 47. Hydraulic cylinders 48 and 49 receive fluid under pressure from the same source as the cylinder 23 and are adapted to move the slides 44 and 45 inwardly in a similar manner. As before,

spring means return the slides to the outward positions when the fluid pressure in the cylinders is released.

Fluid under pressure is simultaneously supplied to the hydraulic cylinders 23, 48 and 49 through conduits 50, 51 and 52 connected to a fluid distribution header 53. The fluid distribution header 53 is in turn supplied with fluid under pressure by the pump 54 and conduit 55. Pump 54 is mounted on a cross member 56 attached to the frame members 2 and comprises a cylinder 57 and piston 58 mounted on a piston rod 59. The piston 58 may comprise a cup washer 60 and space washer 61 suitably secured on a reduced portion 62 of the piston rod 59 by a nut 63.

The design of the pump 54 is such that a single operating stroke of the piston 58 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to its uppermost position in the cylinder 57 will force suflicient fluid under pressure to the fluid operated cylinders 23, 48 and 49 to force the pistons therein inwardly through their full strokes thus moving the slides and shoe-forming blades from opened to closed position. Such movement of the three forming blades 7, 8 and 9 is accomplished simultaneously by virtue of the cylinders 23, 48 and 49 being connected through conduits 50, 51 and 52 to the common source of supply, i. e., the fluid distribution header 53.

The pump 54 is actuated through a toggle connection comprising a lever 65 pivotally mounted at 66 on a support 67 secured to the base 1 and having angularly extending portions 68 and 69. The portion 68 is relatively short and is connected to the piston rod 59 by links 70. The portion 69 is substantially longer than the portion 68, the end thereof extending outwardly of the frame members 2 and having a flat plate or pedal 71 mounted thereon adapted to be contacted by the foot of the operator and depressed. A spring member 72 connects the lever 65 to the cross member 56 and urges the lever 65 in a counterclockwise direction to return it to its starting position when the downward pressure on the plate 71 is released.

It will be apparent that the particular toggle connection utilized for actuating the pump gives a tremendous mechanical advantage and that the downward pressure on the pedal 71 required to actuate the pump is relatively small. Furthermore, when the piston 58 is at the top of its stroke the portion 68 of the lever 65 will be vertically aligned with the link 70 so that the downward force on the pedal 71 required to maintain this position of the parts will be substantially that required to counterbalance the pull of the spring 72.

'In the operation of the hydraulic means above described it sometimes happens that there is a slight leakage of fluid past the pistons which actuate the shoe-form-' ing mechanisms and since the pump 54 is designed to supply a given amount of fluid on each working stroke thereof such leakage and consequent loss of fluid may result in the shoe-forming mechanisms not moving to their fully closed positions. In accordance with the present invention these and other losses are made up by a hand operated pump 75 secured to the frame members 2 and having suitable valve controlled connections 76 and 77 to a fluid reservoir 78 and the fluid distribution header 53. The hand operated pump 75 may be of a conventional type provided with a handle 79 adapted to be actuated by the operator of the machine to withdraw fluid from the reservoir 78 on one stroke thereof and to force it into the fluid distribution header on the return stroke thereof. Connections 76 and 77 are provided with spring pressed ball check valves 80 and 81 adapted to be opened against the force of the springs to permit flow of fluid from the reservoir to the pump and from the pump to the fluid distribution header and adapted to be closed by the springs to prevent flow of fluid from the fluid distribution header to the pump and from the pump to the reservoir. Thus as the handle 79 is moved outwardly valve 80 is opened to permit flow from the reservoir to the pump while valve 81 is closed to prevent flow from the fluid distribution block to the pump. when the handle is moved inwardly valve 80 is closed to prevent flow from the pump to the reservoir and valve 81 is opened to permit flow from the pump to the fluid distribution header.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings no provision is made for recovering the fluid which is lost by leakage. However, if such recovery is desired it may readily be accomplished by providing suitable conduits connecting the cylinders 23, 48 and 49 with the fluid reservoir '78 so that any fluid lost will be returned to the system.

Heel wiper or blade 6 is mounted in a notch 85 of block 86 and is held thereon by a clamping plate 87 secured to the block 86 by a stud bolt 88. Block 86 is secured to the table 3 by bolts 89. Block 86 also carties the heel rest 90 which is made to fit the heel shape of the shoe upper and is used to shape the upper. The heel rest 90 is mounted on a member 91 slidably received in the block 86 and adjustable therein by the knob 92 secured on a member 93 screw-threadedly engaged with the block 86 and a plate 94 secured on members 91 and 93. Thus as the knob 92 is rotated in one direction or the other the plate 94 is moved inwardly or outwardly and carries with it the member 91 and heel rest 90.

Mounted adjacent the heel wiper 6 and heel rest 9% is a last jack 95. Last jack 95 comprises a jack plunger 96 slidably mounted in a socket 97 and carrying in its upper end a pin 98 screw-threadedly engaged therewith for adjustment to proper operating position. The pin 98 is made to fit into the pin hole in the last (not shown) which may be of conventional construction. The socket 97 is secured in a slide plate 99 slidably mounted in a member 100 secured to the under surface of the table 3. This construction allows the last jack assembly to slide with the last as it is pushed into position. The plunger 96 is raised by a rocker arm 101 pivotally mounted at its center portion on spaced arms 102 depending from the under surface of the slide plate 99. One end of the rocker arm 101 is connected to a pull rod 103 and the other end of the rocker arm pushes against the lower end of the jack plunger 96. The pull rod 103 extends downwardly and is connected at its lower portion to an eye block 104 mounted on the lever 65. A spring 105 mounted on the lower end of the pull rod 103 compensates for variations in the lasts.

When the foot pedal 71 is depressed to last a shoe the rocker arm 101 is pivoted in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) and moves the jack plunger 96 and pin 98 upwardly to force the shoe last into position. The slide plate 99 allows the jack assembly to slide with the last as it is pushed into position.

A toe jack may desirably be used with the device of the present invention to assist in moving the shoe last into position. Any suitable type of toe jack known to the art may be used for this purpose.

In the normal position of the parts when the machine is at rest the foot pedal 71 is in its upper raised position and the shoe-forming elements are in their opened or retracted positions. When it is desired to move the parts to form a shoe the pedal 71 is depressed by the foot of the'operator and acts through the lever 65 and the toggle link 70 to move the piston 58 of the pump 54 through its full operative stroke. Fluid is thereby forced through the line 55, fluid distribution header 53 and lines 50, 51 and 52 under pressure to the hydraulic cylinders 23, 48 and 49. The quantity of fluid so entering these cylinders is suflicient to force the pistons therein throughout their full stroke and into contact with the ends of the cylinders. This moves the shoe-forming blades or wipers 7, 3 and 9 into their closed positions to form a shoe as shown in Fig. 1 and holds them in this position as long as the pedal '71'is depressed.

Depressing the pedal 71 also actuates the pull'rod 103- and rocker arm 101 thereby raising the jack plunger 96 and pin 93 to move the last into position.

Thus the lasting machine according to the present invention is very simply operated merely by depressing the foot pedal 71. This causes the shoe-forming blades to simultaneously move to their closed positions and the last jack to move the last to operative position. When the pressure on the foot pedal 71 is released spring 72 returns the lever 65 to its upper position thereby withdrawing the piston 58 to its lower position. This releases the pressure on the pistons in the hydraulic cylinders 23, 48 and 49 and the springs in the slides return the slides and blades as well as the pistons to their outer positions, thereby forcing the fluid from the cylinders back to the pump. The last jack is also returned to its starting position when the foot pedal 71 is released so that all parts are agaln in position for a new shoe-forming operation.

The machine of the present invention is desirably provided with a casing 106 and a cover 107 formed of sheet metal or the like and secured thereon in any suitable manner. The cover 107 is, of course, provided with an opening 108 to permit access to the shoe-forming mechanisms above described.

Various modifications of the invention described and illustrated will most likely occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is indicated in the attached claims.

I claim:

1. A lasting machine comprising a support, a plurality of slide blocks secured to said support, one of said slide blocks having a stationary shoe-forming blade mounted thereon, the other slide blocks having movable shoeforming blades mounted thereon, hydraulic means for simultaneously moving said movable shoe-forming blades into cooperative relationship with said stationary shoeforming blade to form a shoe, means for actuating said hydraulic means, a last jack mounted on said support and means connected with said hydraulic actuating means adapted to simultaneously actuate said last jack.

2. A lasting machine comprising a support, a plurality of shoe-forming blade slides mounted on said support for reciprocating movement, shoe-forming blades replaceably mounted on said slides, said shoe-forming blades being shaped to form a desired type and size of shoe, and means for reciprocating said slides to move the forming blades into operative position comprising a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, piston means in said cylinders having piston rods connected to said forming blade slides, a

header for holding fluid under pressure, conduit means connecting said hydraulic cylinders to said header, reciprocating pump means for supplying fluid to said header means under pressure, said pump means being designed to supply an amount of fluid on each stroke thereof suflicient to simultaneously move the hydraulically operated slides to operative position, and means for operating said pump comprising a lever and a toggle connection between said pump and lever.

3. A lasting machine comprising a plurality of movable shoeforming elements, hydraulic means for moving said shoe-forming elements, manual means for actuating said hydraulic means, a last jack, and means connected to said manual means for actuating said last jack simultaneously with movement of said shoe-forming elements.

4. A shoe lasting machine comprising a support, a last jack mounted on said support, wiper blade-supporting blocks mounted on said support around said last jack, one of said blocks being relatively stationary and the other blocks being movable laterally toward and from said last jack, wiper blades carried by said blocks, separate fluid pressure operated means connected with each of said movable blocks for independently moving them in unison to move the blades carried thereby in cooperative relationship with said stationary block, means for actuating said fluid pressure operated means, and means for elevating the last iack incidental to the movement of the blade-supporting blocks toward the last jack.

5. A shoe lasting machine comprising a support, a last jack mounted on said support, wiper blade-supporting blocks mounted on said support around said last jack, one of said blocks being relatively stationary and the other blocks being movable laterally toward and from said last jack, wiper blades carried by said blocks, fluid pressure operated means for moving said movable blocks in unison to move the blades carried thereby in cooperative relationship with said last jack, and manually operated means for actuating said fluid pressure operated means, said manually operated means being provided with an operative connection for lifting the last jack as the movable wiper blades are moved into engagement with a last carried thereby.

6. A shoe lasting machine comprising a support, a last jack movably mounted on said support, a set of four wiper blades mounted on said support, and including opposed heel and toe wipers relatively movable in the direction of one axis of a last carried by said jack and side wipers movable in a direction at right angles thereto, separate fluid pressure operated means connected to said toe and side wipers for simultaneously moving them relatively to said last jack to shape a shoe, fluid supply means for actuating said fluid pressure operated means, and treadle operated connections for actuating said supply means and last jack.

7. A shoe lasting machine comprising a support, a last jack mounted on said support, a set of four wiper blades mounted on said support, and including opposed heel and toe wipers relatively movable in the direction of one axis of a last carried by said jack and side wipers movable in a direction at right angles thereto, fluid pressure operated means for simultaneously moving said toe and side wipers relatively to said last jack to shape a shoe, and means for actuating said fluid pressure operated means, said last named means being provided with an operating connection to raise the last jack as the toe and side wiper blades are moved into operative relation thereto.

8. A lasting machine comprising a plurality of reciprocable shoe-forming blades disposed for independent movement into and out of shoe-forming position, a plurality of separate fluid operated means operatively connected with each of said blades and adapted to simultaneously move them under independent pressure into shoe-forming position, and reciprocable pump means connected to each of said fluid operated means and adapted upon a single actuation thereof to simultaneously supply fluid thereto in quantities suflicient to efiect actuation thereof.

9. A lasting machine comprising a plurality of reciprocable shoe-forming blades disposed for independent movement into and out of shoe-forming position, a plurality of separate fluid operated means operatively connected with each of said blades and adapted to simultaneously move them under independent pressure into shoe-forming position, reciprocable pump means connected to each of said fluid operated means, said pump means being adapted to supply fluid to said fluid operated means when actuated in one direction and to receive fluid discharged therefrom when actuated in the opposite direction, manual means for actuating said pump means in one direction, and spring means for actuating said pump means in the opposite direction when said manual means is released.

10. A lasting machine as set forth in claim 8 including an actuating lever connected to said pump means by a toggle linkage, the links of said toggle linkage being movable into substantial alignment when said pump is actuated by said lever to assist in maintaining the fluid pressure in said fluid operated means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 10,499 Hawkes July 22, 1884 372,537 Hoyt Nov. 1, 1887 569,017 Ferguson Oct. 6, 1896 1,324,403 Merrick Dec. 9, 1919 1,774,963 Collins Sept. 2, 1930 1,869,184 Burr July 26, 1932 1,979,000 Kamborian Oct. 30, 1934 1,997,732 La Chapelle Apr. 16, 1935 2,150,892 DeLiso Mar. 21, 1939 2,173,980 Pym Sept. 26, 1939 2,185,941 Dunn Jan. 2, 1940 2,249,635 Newcomb July 15, 1941 2,423,454 Jorgensen July 8, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 252,342 Switzerland Oct. 16, 1948 

